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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  18. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. chest — a box
  2. pitch — completely
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. stock — shares
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. stock — goods
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. chest — of your body
  18. chest — of your body
  19. content — the amount
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. content — happy
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. nail — for a hammer

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com